MOSCOW, March 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's economics ministry expects to receive proposals from ministries and departments later this month on improving a plan for the country's development until 2020, a senior ministry official said on Friday.
Two weeks ago, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry published a draft scenario for Russia's development until 2020 and submitted it to relevant departments for coordination.
"I hope ministries and departments will submit proposals to improve the plan by April 1," said Oleg Fomichyov, a ministry adviser.
Anna Popova, deputy economics minister, said that under the long-term development plan the country's raw materials-based economy should adopt new mechanisms to ensure growth. She cited property rights protection, the development of corporate management, an environment of competitiveness, financial markets, and measures to enhance efficiency of state-owned companies.
However, she admitted that corruption remained a problem that could disrupt the implementation of the 2020 plan.
Late last week Igor Yurgens, deputy president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, criticized the government's long-term development plan, over what he says are insufficient measures to encourage private businesses, and excessive government-oriented proposals.
Russia's president-elect Dmitry Medvedev, who held his first State Council Presidium meeting in the West Siberian city of Tobolsk on Thursday, proposed a ban on unauthorized checks of small businesses.
"I propose considering a ban on checks of small businesses by supervising organizations," Medvedev said, adding that similar inspections should be sanctioned by courts or prosecutors.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, who also attended the State Council meeting, proposed establishing regional commissions to encourage small business.
